Fluid flow control



pllll m, W3@ 1H. J. MASWNBHUOK Zwym@ FLUID FLOW CONTROL Filed Dec. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet `1 WM W36.. H. J. MASTENBROQM .,U

FLUID FLOW CONTROL Filed Dec. 2l, 1929 2 Sheets-Shee 2 (j 111m ufo@ ated prl 28, 1936 NlT I httlltl l ttl Flin h'l'ull Henry .,l. l

tenbroolr, hlcvcld, biblio, assior tu The Swartwout llopany, Uievelaml, libia,

y ration of @hier Application heceber Pil, luth, Sel lilo.. ltl5,'ll4l ld ma. (lll. hh-lih) s invention s to do with the how of huids and is more particularly concerned with such mechanism as is employed to control uids howing under pressure.

5 For example the installation of extensive heating systems sometimes gives rise to the need for a plurality of sources of steam supply. When such is the case the several sources of supply are connected to a common header from which steam ya is talren as required to heat any or all oi several units which may be connected to the header.

'lhe present invention evidences recognition of the need for supplying saiety cut-od valves in an arrangement such as above noted. e inls vention therefore has in view the provision oi a cut-od valve which is automatically operable toclose the line in which it is placed when the pressure of the duid in the line on either side or the valve falls below a certain predetermined point. all lin accordance with this invention one of these valves will be located in each supply line adjacent toits point of connection with the header. With this arrangement a breair in the line between the -valve and source of steam, or any other factor 2h tending to reduce the pressure oi the steam below a certain point, will be edective to automatically shut the valve of that particular supply line while a reduction of pressure in the header would cause the closing of all the cut-od valves, ess, of lh course, cut-od valves are spaced along the header between supply es.

inasmuch as systems of this type are usually designed to operate with the ste therein at a certain pressure, and in view of the fact that a 35 plurality oi separate sources of supply might provide ma at varying pressures, reducing valves are eployed to reduce the pressure ot the steam l in the several supply lines to that desired in the header. Having this condition in mind this in- 'til vention broly contemplates incorporating the lunctions of a reducing valve into the safety cutcd valve hereinbefore mentioned. h valve mechanism provided in accordance with this invention will constitute not only a cut-od valve ior clos- M ing a line upon the drop of pressure on either side of the valve but also a valve for reducing the pressure of fluid as it hows therethrough.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages, such as those associated with rendering the loregoing reducing operations automatic, will in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds. For a lull and more complete undergg standing thereof, reference may be had to the lill following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

y Fig. l is a diagraatic showing of a portion of a system including a plurality of control valves such as provided by this invention; Fig. 2 is a y showing somewhat schematic, oit a valve and associated mechanism such as provided by this in` vention; and Fig. 3 is a detailed illustration ol one of the pilot valves.

Referring now tothe drawings, and particuya larly Fig. 1, a coon header, such as may be included in an extensive heating system is designated X. Supply lines Y and Z are shown as connecting with the header and each of these lines,

of course, lead from sources of supply (not yy shown) of steam under pressure. The pressure of steam provided by the sources of supply is ordinarily in excess of the pressure in the header X and to the end of reducing the pressure of steam as it is fed into the header X, and to close au either supply line it or Z upon reduction of pressure therein, the valves indicated generally as h are provided. lt is evident, that if pressure is reduced in the header X both the valves d would close except for the provision of valves h which au may be similar' to valves A except that the elements for reducing pressure are eliminated. e valves B simply isolatev any given portion of the header in which a leak may occur.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, an the construction of one or" the valve assemblies .d will be described. A conduit i, which in the foregoing illustrative example may be either of the supply lines Y or Z is connected to a valve casing l by a joint indicated at l. Pressure of the 3d fluid therein is comparatively high, for illustrative purposes, say 100 lbs. A second conduit ll is connected at t to the casing l and pressure of the fluid in this conduit ls for example reduced to about 50 lbs. "lhis conduit t is connected to and do forms a, part of the common header X.

Partitions t are formed integral with the casing l and have valve openings 'l defined by seats t. Valve members t, having guides it, and carried by a valve stem il, are designed to be fitted l5 in the seats l to close the valve openings l and to be removed therefrom to open the latter. The upper portion of the casing l is closed by a hanged construction shown at il through which extends the stem ll. .d fe il is connected 50 to the casing l by the flanges Il a d at the 4upper part thereof is provided with a valve operating mechanism in the form of a diaphragm having a housing lll. The stem ills connected to the diap to be operated thereby and a 55 p The pressure of the fluid in the chamber as opposed by the spring pressure positions the valve members 9 with respect to seats 8. A manually operable valve I8 may be located adjacent the diaphragm chamber for arbitrarily throttling the ow or bleeding the line as exigencies may demand.

A pilot valve, referred to generally as P1, and hereinafter described in detail is located in the conduit Il, which extends to and is connected with a master control shown at M. The latter comprises a supporting panel I9 on which are mounted a pair of oppositely disposed valves V1 and V2. The valve V1 has a chamber 2U that is in open communication with a conduit 2l. A partition 22 having a valve opening therein separates the chamber 2li from a second chamber 23 which is formed as part of a conduit 24. A valve member 25, mounted on a stem 26 is associated with the partition 22 and opening therein to control the ow of uicl from the conduit 2i to the conduit 24. The stem 26 extends upwardly to a diaphragm operating mechanism indicated at 2li. A spring 29 is associated with the stem to cooperate with the diaphragm 2l in operating the valve member 25. It is to be noted that when the member 25 is in its most downward position the opening is closed and that upward movement opens the valve V1.

The valve V2 is a substantial counterpart of the valve V, with the exception that its valve member 29 moves downwardly to open the valve opening in partition 39. Conduit .-'ll of valve V2 is connected to the conduit 24 as shown at 32 and the conduit ll is connected at 33 to these two parts of valves V1 and V2. The valve V2 functions to control the passage of uid from the conduit 3l to a line 34 which exhausts to atmosphere. A diaphragm mechanism 35 controls the operation of the valve member 29 and a manifold serves to establish communication between a conduit 3l and the diaphragm mechanisms 2l and 35. Manually operable valves 38 may be included in the system and are similar to the valve I8. It is apparent that as pressure on diaphragm 2l tends to close the valve V1 the same pressure on diaphragm 35 Will open valve V2 to a corresponding extent.

A conduit 39 is connected at 40 to the conduit 2| and this conduit 39 is in turn connected to the conduit 31 at 4|. A pilot valve P2, similar in every respect to pilot valve P1, is located in the conduit 39 intermediate the connections y4|) and 4I. A conduit 42 extends from the connection at 4I to the conduit 4 to which-it is connected. A sediment trap 43 may be located in the line 42. A conduit 44 connects the coupling at 4ll with another coupling at 45. A line 46 extends from the coupling 45 to the operating diaphragm of the pilot valve P1, while a second line 41 extends from the joint 45 to the conduit I. A sediment trap 48 may be located in this line which may also be provided with a gauge 49. A hand valve is shown at 50 and it is this valve which is turned on manually to render operative the automatic mechanism herein described. A line 5| having a pressure gauge 52 and trap 53 extends from the conduit 4 to the operating diaphragm of the pilot valve P2.

The pilotvalves P1 and P1 are of duplicate construction and one of them is shown in Fig. 3. This valve comprises a casing 54 which is designed to be connected in a line by the threaded joints at 55 and 56. A partition 57 is formed integral in the casing and .together with a plug 58 defines a chamber 59. The plug 58 has an opening 60 therein which communicates with the atmosphere while the partition 51 receives a member 6I having an opening therein which, when open, establishes communication in the line connected to the casing at 56 and 55.

A valve member 62, carried by a stem 63 is designed to close either the openings 69 or the opening in member 6|. When the opening in member 6I is closed, opening 60 is open and the chamber 59 exhausts bo atmosphere and when opening 60 is closed the opening in 6I is open and the line is unrestricted. A frame construction 64 supports a spring arrangement 65 which is associated with the stem and at its outer end structure defining a diaphragm chamber 6G. A diaphragm 6l in the latter is connected to the end of stem 63 and operates the latter. A passage 69 admits fluid under pressure to the diaphragm chamber. It is evident that the spring 65 normally urges the valve member 62 into a position closing the opening in the member 6I leaving opening 69 unrestricted. However, when pressure in the` chamber 66 is suiiicient to overcome spring 65, the member 62 is moved to a position closing the opening 69.

The operation of the foregoing mechanism may be briefly outlined by starting with the valve members El) closing the openings l, pressure in the conduit l that of atmosphere and pressure in the conduit i, lili) lbs. The master control has been adjusted to aect the reducing action of the valve so that pressure in the conduit Il shall be 50 lbs. Also the pilot valves have been adjusted so that the valve members 9 will close the openings 'Il when pressure in conduit I falls a certain amount beneath 100 lbs. or the pressure'in the conduit 4 a certain amount below 50 lbs. It is to be understood that the above noted figures are merely illustrated and taken for the descriptive purposes of this specication.

To start the operation of the device, the hand valve 50 is opened. 'I'he fluid under the pressure of that in conduit is admitted to the diaphragm chamber of the pilot valve P1.

valve member 62 is moved to a position closing the exhaust to atmosphere and establishing communication through the conduit I1. The opening of the valve 50 permits the fluid under pressure to pass through the'conduits 44 and 2| to the valve V1 through which it flows to the conduit I1 and through the latter to the diaphragm chamber I4 of the valve A. This pressure on the diaphragm unseats the valve members 9 from the seats 8 and allows uid to flow through the. valve, thereby building up pressure inthe conduit 4. The pilot valve P2 has been in a position closing communication in conduit 39, but when pressure in the conduit 4 has built up suiliciently it is transmitted to the diaphragm chamber of valve P2 by the line 5| to operate the valve to close the exhaust to atmosphere and establish communication through line 39. Fluid under the pressure of conduit 4 is then supplied to the conduit I'I through the valve V, and conduits 39 and 2| .I The valve 5I) may then be turned off to leave the valve A under the automatic control of the various mechanisms.

This pressure serves to overcome that of the spring 65 and the dit lilluid under the pressure of conduit ll is supplied to the diaphragm chambers il and llt of valves V1 and V2 of the master control, and a variation of pressure in the conduit ll will adect these valves V1 and V2 which are very sensitive. llt is obvious that as valve V1 closes and valve V2 opens the supply of vhuid under pressure to the diaphragm. chamber lll of valve A through the conduit lllwill be diminished, but a closing of valve V2, together with an opening of V1 will increase this pressure. When the machine is rst turned on the valve V1 will be open with valve V2 closed but when pressure has been built up in conduit il to a desired amount, boththese valves V1 and V2 will lbe open to some extent so that the mechanism will be responsive to small changes of pressure in the conduit ll to either increase or decrease as the case may be the pressure of the duid in the diaphragm chamber it. `rfhis arrangement causes the valve A to operate as a reducing valve as any changes in pressure in conduit ll are promptly euective to vary the opening in valve A to bringthe pressure bach to the desired point.

Consider now'the case when pressure in the conduit fallsa substantial distance beneath 50 lbs. to render necessary the closing of the valve A. This reduction will cause operation of the pilot valve P2 to exhaust the conduit tt to atmosphere at the same time cutting od communication in the conduitilt at P2. Reduction of pressure in line exhausts the fluid from conduits il and ll and of course the diaphragm chamber it, whereupon the valve members t, under the influence of the spring it engage the seats A to close the valve A. lt is to be remembered that the vave til has been closed to discontinue the conduit l as a source of supply to the diaphragm chamber lll.

On the other hand,A when pressure is reduced in the conduit l an appreciable extent below one hundred pounds, the reduction will, of course, also taire place in the diaphragm chamber of valve ibi and the latter is therefore operated to exhaust the chamber lll to the atmosphere at the same time closing the conduit il from the side connecting the valve to valves V1 and V2. The reduction in chamber lll' closes the valve A although the pressure in conduit il may be maintained at a desired point from other sources.

Vthile a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is herein set forth it is to be understood that li am not to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and described because various vmodications of these details may be made in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

ll claimzl. lin mechanism of the class described the combination with a common header, and a plurality of supply lines connected to the header, of a cut ont valve located in each of the supply lines, each of said valves including mechanism for automatically closing the valve upon reduction of pressure on either side thereof below a certain .valve.

ll. lin combination, a conduit and a valve assembly comprising a main valve including a valve member, fluid actuated mechanism for operating the valve member, a separate master control operable in response to pressures in said conduit associated with the fluid actuated mechanism to maintain the valve member in position to effect certain reducing functions, and independent pilot valves adecting the uid actuated mechanism to automatically close the main valve upon reduction of the pressure of the uid on either side of the valve. l

52111 a valve assembly, the combination with a main valve including a valve member, of a fluid actuated diaphragm for operatingY the valve member, a supply of fluid under pressure to the diaphragm, and pilot valves adapted to cut off ythe .i

supply of fluid under pressure to the diaphragm upon reduction in pressure of fluid on either side of the main valve below a certain predetermined point, said main valves also serving as pressure reducing valve. s

6. In a, valve assembly, the combination with a main valve including a valve member, oi a fluid actuated diaphragm for operating the valve member, a supply of fluid under pressure to the diaphragm, a master control operatively associated with the fluid supplyfor maintaining the valve member in proper position to perform certain predetermined reducing functions, and pilot valves adapted to cut off the supply of fluid under pressure to the diaphragm upon reduction in pressure of fluid on either side of the main valve below a certain predetermined point.

7. A valve assembly comprising a main valve, fluid actuated mechanism controlling the operationof the main valve, supply lines of huid under pressure for the' actuating mechanism,` a pilot valve in each supply line, each of said pilot valves being movable into a position establishing communication in the supply line and also into a position cutting off communication and exhausting the actuating mechanism to atmosphere, each of said pilot valves including a flexible diaphragm located in a chamber, and a conduit connecting the diaphragm chamber with the line controlled by the main valve.

8. in a valve assembly, the combination with a main control valve, of huid operated means for actuating the control valve, a supply of fluid under pressure for said last named means, a pair of valves controlling the pressure of fluid in said supply line, means for automatically operating the pair of valves whereby they are constituted 'a master control, and a pair of pilot valves for automatically cutting off the uid supply and exhausting fluid from the actuating means upon reduction of pressure of the fluid in the line controlled by the main valve.

9. Controlling mechanism for valves, comprising in combination, a line having fluid under pressure therein, a valve operating device controlled by the pressure of duid in the line, a main valve voperated thereby, master controlvalve means for controlling the pressureof fluid in the line, and pilot valves for automatically obstructing the line and exhausting fluid from the valve operating device upon reduction of pressure of the fluid in the line controlled by the main valve.

10. Controlling mechanism for valves, comprising in combination, a line having fluid under pressure therein, a valve operating device controlled by the pressure of uid in the line, a main valve operated thereby,'master control valve means for controlling the pressure of fluid in the line, a pair of pilot valves located in the line, and means for automatically operating either one of the pilot valves.

l1. A valve assembly comprising a main valve, fluid actuated mechanism controlling the operal tion of the main valve, supply lines of fluid under pressure for the actuating mechanism, a master control for the main valve which is separate therefrom and comprises a pair of reversely acting valves which serve to control the pressure of fluid inthe supply lines, a pilot valve in each supply line, each of said pilot valves being movable into a position establishing communication in its sup-V ply line and also into a position cutting off comadapted to have a 'condition of high pressure existing on one side of said valve and a condition of low pressure existing on the other side of said valve, said valve comprising a valve member, fluid actuating mechanism for operating said valve member, a separate master control operable in response to pressures in said conduit associated with the fluid actuated mechanism-to maintain the valve member in position to effect certain reducing functions, and independent pilot valves affecting the fluid actuated mechanism to automatically close the main valve upon reduction of the pressure of the fluid on the high pressure side of the valve.

13. A valve assembly comprising a main valve, iiuid actuated mechanism for controlling the operation of the Imain valve, supply lines containing fluid under pressure for the actuating mechanism, a master control for. the main valve separate therefrom and comprising a pair of reversely acting valves controlling the pressure of fluid in the supply lines and including a flexible diaphragm, a diaphragm chamber and means communicating with said ydiaphragm chamber and at least one of lau 

